Urgh! I am sitting in the house in Pacific Palisades and the number of helicopters gyrating up and down the coastline in the last 40 minutes has been surreal! (Actually from about 5:40 until 6:00) I have not been able to hear my music at some points. It seems I cannot escape them!

Maybe I will wander up to the Polo Field tomorrow - every attempt to be where they are not is not working! Ha!

Does anyone know if they took Sunset down to the PCH? Because there was a 30-40 minute period there where the helicopters were choking the airspace at Sunset/PCH.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PrincessKaimi

I don't see any celebrities at this conference (the Duke and Duchess will be hobnobbing with them tomorrow night - I think it's unavoidable, given their status; they can't very well go walk up and down Hollywood Blvd). I see hardworking behind the scenes types. And the reason, according to Clarence House is to support "UK Trade and Investment." This particular meeting is trying strategize to get people with money to invest in UK films. This does help the "little people" who are trying to work in film in the UK. That's how the average person in films gets work - from the investment of people in the making of the film. Most people who work in films do not make a lot of money.

This is a working visit, yes? I do not expect Los Angelenos to turn out in crowds to a route that was barely revealed to them in the past few hours.

The Royal couple's itinerary in SoCal is very limited; most of us won't be able to show our enthusiasm (they're 1.5 hours from where I sit right now, but tomorrow they'll be closer).

Yeah, I thought I could squeeze in a half hour workout and they were already in Hancock Park. That's what happens in LA, helicopters take shots of people's backyards. Doesn't matter who they are, they just have to be in LA.

But, I don't spot them in the back. They'll probably remain in the house.

I do have to say that those cocktail tables are sparse. You'd think they could throw in a few more with that big a lawn.

I just turned off the ABC live stream because those helicopter shots were driving me nuts! Intrusive much? I understand it's LA, but give these two and those at the dinner/reception a break! We will be seeing more of them tomorrow and Sunday. Ugh.

OK, rant over. Feel free to carry on.

__________________"My guiding principles in life are to be honest, genuine, thoughtful and caring".
~Prince William~

If encouraging people to invest in UK Films means that we get more Masterpiece theatre imported from England as well as films like The King's Speech, Bend it Like Beckham (although I think they were brought over to the US by major film companies) than I am all for it.

But yes Princess Kaimi is correct.....investment should (one hopes) lead to jobs. People spending money!

If you think about it, the BBC is quite HUGE in England and Hollywood is it's equivelent so it would make sense that their HRH would hit that industry. Hollywood is just about the only game in town there.

True. I think it makes sense too. They are also such a photogenic pair, it's not hard for them to win hearts over the airwaves - which in the end, is what film and television are about.

The grocery store where I stopped in a relatively small town 50 miles from L.A. had gotten together a display of British flags and Royal Wedding DVD's in the last two days. Having the Royal couple become this type of celebrity certainly can't hurt similar British-themed marketing displays.

You know, what was funny and cute about the helicopter filming of the entire drive from LAX to the Beverly Hilton, the commentators were like, "What street are they on? Is that Culver? Yeah, on Culver just crossing Lincoln. This is a kind of an interesting route.... Hey, this is actually a great way to get to the Westside from LAX. You know, I've never seen this route before."

That's quintessential LA for you. Admiring the driving routes used by others.

As to the content of the conference - the ostensible reason for the Royal couple to be in L.A. is to support British/Commonwealth filmmaking, and raising capital for such ventures is a serious topic.

It isn't all fun and games, being royal. At least the topic is one that William has said is of great interest to him. To me, it would beat going to hospitals or Skid Row, but that's just me.

Those of us who read Variety find the Industry interesting enough, perhaps William will take something away from the meeting about how films actually end up getting made, promoted and finally seen in various venues.

British filmmakers seem far off to Hollywood types, I think, and Variety is trying to close the gap by sponsoring this.

What I find interesting reading this is we have to remember too that the most recent film awarded with "Best Picture" at the Oscars was "The King's Speech" which was focused on William's great-great grandparents. I've still not seen the film nor do I know how many Oscars it received or if it was even American or British made. All I came to realize that there is a market on both sides of the pond for things British. With William being patron of BAFTA, it would make sense that he'd be a part of these discussions.

Urgh! I am sitting in the house in Pacific Palisades and the number of helicopters gyrating up and down the coastline in the last 40 minutes has been surreal! (Actually from about 5:40 until 6:00) I have not been able to hear my music at some points. It seems I cannot escape them!

Maybe I will wander up to the Polo Field tomorrow - every attempt to be where they are not is not working! Ha! s:

I'm in my house in Malibu and I heard the exact same thing. All this noise is not necessary!